NSTP 1 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
WEEK 16 & 17 - GLOBAL WARMING, DISASTER RISK REDUCTION, AND MANAGEMENT
AWARENESS
Overview
This chapter deals with global warming, climate change, disaster and its management, natural hazards
and their management, emergency preparedness, disaster prevention and mitigation, as well as landuse planning (risk zoning), its operating policies, and contribution in disaster management.
Global Warming
Human exploitation of the environment leads to the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere. Along with other pollutants, carbon dioxide traps the sun's heat and causes the Earth to
warm up. Global warming is "an increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere”
(Markham, 2009).
The Philippines is located at the circum-Pacific “Belt (or Ring) of Fire" and is always subject to natural
calamities like typhoons, tornadoes, earthquakes, droughts, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, which
resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of properties.
Climate Change
Climate change is the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, significantly changing the
normal or expected weather patterns and conditions in specific regions of the Earth. If a particular
region's climate unpredictably changes from what it ought to be to what it should not be, dire
consequences occur. These destructive consequences may not come in an instant, but their pernicious
effects are gradually felt as time goes by. Floods, droughts, and extreme weather conditions are slowly
creeping in and becoming more frequent. Sea levels are rising as polar ice caps are melting because of
the warmer temperature. Plants and animals that cannot adapt to this change suffer and die. Global
warming remains an active field of research, but the scientific consensus identifies greenhouse gases as
its main cause. Major natural greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone.
Adding carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (CH) to the Earth's atmosphere makes the planet's surface
warmer. Greenhouse gases create a natural greenhouse effect on the Earth. Increased CO, in the
atmosphere warms the Earth's surface and leads to the melting of ice in the North and South Poles. As
the ice melts, land or open water takes its place. This produces more warming which, in turn, leads to
more melting, a vicious cycle.
Human activities increase the greenhouse effect. These include:
1. Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, leading to higher concentrations of carbon dioxide
2. Livestock and paddy rice farming, land use and wetland changes, pipeline losses, and covered vented
landfill emissions leading to higher methane atmospheric concentrations. Many modern-style, fully
vented septic systems that enhance and target the fermentation process are major sources of
atmospheric methane
3. Use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in refrigeration systems, fire suppression systems, and
manufacturing processes
4. Agricultural activities, including the use of fertilizers that lead to higher nitrous oxide concentrations.
REXSON D. TAGUBA, LPT
GURO SA FILIPINO
NSTP 1 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
Greenhouse gas emissions from various industries, transportation, and agriculture have played a major
role in global warming.
Effects of Global Warming
Global warming affects both the natural environment and human life. While changes are expected for
overall patterns, intensity, and frequencies, it is difficult or impossible to attribute specific events such
as Typhoon Ondoy in 2009 to global warming.
Some anticipated effects of global warming include the rising of sea level from 110 to 770 millimeter
by the year 2100, repercussions to agriculture, possible slowing of the thermohaline circulation,
reductions in the ozone layer, increased intensity and frequency of typhoons and extreme weather
events, lowering of ocean pH, spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, and mass extinction
of animals and plants.
Solutions to Global Warming
Here are some ways to help minimize global warming:
1. Purchase energy-efficient cars. Take the bus instead of driving your own car. Support legislative
efforts to increase the standards for fuel efficiency in vehicles and to develop alternative fuels.
2. Buy more appliances with the energy star label. These appliances are developed by a government
program to demonstrate a high degree of energy efficiency. Energy-efficient appliances are more
expensive, but they will save you money in the long run.
3. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents which use a third to a quarter of the
electricity and last ten times longer. This can significantly cut down on energy bills.
4. Employ house weatherization which requires as little heat and air conditioning as possible. House
landscaping like planting trees that cast big shadow are important as well since they provide cool shade.
Trees likewise absorb CO, produced by burned fossil fuels.
5. Talk to the community leaders and association boards about planting more trees, building more
walkways and bike paths, and providing better public transportation.
Disaster
According to Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr., disaster is characterized by several elements namely, hazards,
risks, people or community, and vulnerability. Hazard (H) or the physical impact of the disturbance,
either man-made or natural, is heightened by the amount of risk (R) to the people and community.
Moreover, the degree of the vulnerability (V) of all involved further fuels the magnitude of a disaster.
This is presented in the disaster equation as follows:
H Hx R+ V = Disaster
REXSON D. TAGUBA, LPT
GURO SA FILIPINO
NSTP 1 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
The concept of disaster risk management accepts that some hazards may occur. The impact, however,
can be lessened by improving the community's ability to absorb the impact with minimum damage or
destruction.
The disaster management cycle is a traditional approach to disaster management in which disaster
measures are regarded as a number of phased sequences of action or a continuum. They aim to reduce
the vulnerabilities in the community. In addition, when sustained over a long period of time, they reduce
unacceptable risk to an acceptable level and make a community disaster-resistant or resilient.
The comprehensive risk management process has the potential to break the cycle of damage and
reconstruction when a community is subjected to repeated natural hazards. It refers to a range of
policies: legislative mandates; professional practices; social, structural, and non-structural adjustments;
and risk transfer mechanisms to prevent, reduce, or minimize the effects of hazards on a community.
To be effective, a strategy must be in place and ready for immediate implementation when necessary.
This can only be done through advance preparation and planning. The following are risk management
measures:
1. Engineering measures (keep hazards away from people)
2. Land-use planning and management measures (keep people away from hazards);
3. Control and protection works (modify hazards)
4. Early warning (predict hazards)
5. Preparedness planning (prepare in anticipation of hazards)
6. Reconstruction planning after a disaster with the aim of reducing the and vulnerability
7. Mainstreaming risk management in development practice institutionalization
Disaster Management
Disaster management is important in dealing with man-made and natural disasters.
Natural disasters are inevitable. However, with modern technology, communities can prepare and
minimize the damage to lives and properties. Likewise, man-made disasters can be prevented if the
community is more careful and properly oriented on what it can do in times of crisis.
According to the United Nations Disaster Relief Office (UNDRO), there is an increasing number of
people who are affected by disasters all over the world. Not only Third World countries are afflicted
with disasters but also the richest countries in the world. In the Philippines, poor communities are the
ones to suffer the most damage brought about by calamities. There are five reasons for this situation:
1. Rapid population growth
2. Concentration of population in high-risk areas like floodplains, landslide prone slopes, and seismic
zones
REXSON D. TAGUBA, LPT
GURO SA FILIPINO
NSTP 1 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
3. Destruction of marshes by real estate developers
4. Man-made destruction, e. g., deforestation which has lessened the ecosystems resilience to disaster
5. Increasing poverty leading to substandard housing (i.e., not typhoon-resistant)
Natural Hazards
Natural hazards "are elements of the physical environment that are harmful to man and caused by
extraneous forces” (Solidum, 2012). It pertains to all atmospheric, hydrologic, geologic (especially
seismic and volcanic), and wildfire phenomena that, because of their location, severity, and frequency,
have the potential to affect humans, their structures, or their activities adversely. The qualifier “natural"
eliminates such exclusively man-made phenomena like war, pollution, and chemical contamination.
Hazards to human beings not necessarily related to the physical environment are the infectious
diseases.
A natural hazard has an element of human involvement. A physical event, such as a volcanic eruption,
that does not affect human beings is a natural phenomenon but is not considered a natural hazard. A
natural phenomenon that occurs in a populated area is a hazardous event. A hazardous event that
causes an unacceptably large number of fatalities and/or overwhelming property damage is a natural
disaster.
Hazard Management
Hazard management is the process by which the government makes plans which consist of policies,
projects, and supportive actions to guide economic, social, and spatial development over a period of
time. The activities included in the process are designed to reduce loss of life and destruction of
property. Natural hazard management has often been conducted independently of development
planning.
The natural hazard management process is divided into pre-event measures, actions during and
immediately following an event, and post-disaster measures. In approximate chronological order, they
are as follows:
Disaster Mitigation
An accurate and timely prediction of a hazardous event saves human lives but does little to
reduce economic losses or social disruption. This can only be accomplished by measures taken in
advance. Included in the concept of disaster mitigation is the basic assumption that the impact of
disasters can be avoided or reduced when they have been anticipated during development planning.
Mitigation of disasters usually entails reducing the vulnerability of the elements at risk, modifying the
hazard-proneness of the site, or changing its function. Mitigation measures can have a structural
character such as the inclusion of specific safety or vulnerability reduction measures in the design and
construction of new facilities, the retrofitting of existing facilities, or the building of protective devices.
Non-structural mitigation measures typically concentrate on limiting land uses, using tax incentives and
eminent domain, and risk underwriting through insurance programs.
Disaster mitigation also includes data collection and analysis to identify and evaluate appropriate
measures that are incorporated in development planning.
Natural Hazard Assessment
REXSON D. TAGUBA, LPT
GURO SA FILIPINO
NSTP 1 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
Information from the analysis of an area's hazards and vulnerability to them is integrated in an analysis
of risk which is an estimate of the probability of expected loss for a given hazardous event. Formal risk
analyses are time-consuming and costly, but available shortcut methods can give adequate results for
project evaluation. Once risks are assessed, planners have the basis for incorporating mitigation
measures into the design of investment projects and for comparing project versus no-project costs and
benefits.
Natural Hazard Prediction
The prediction of a natural event is a direct outcome of scientific investigation into its causes and is
aimed at establishing the probability of the next occurrence in terms of time, place, and range of
severity.
Emergency Preparedness
Solidum also emphasizes that the two levels of preparedness can be identified: public safety information
and hazard awareness planning. The first includes a number of efforts aimed at increasing the amount
of information disseminated to the public and at promoting cooperation between the public and the
authorities in case of an emergency. In the course of an event, or in its aftermath, social and public
behavior undergoes important changes. This results in new organizational responsibilities for the public
sector. Hazard information and education programs can improve public preparedness and social
conduct during a disaster.
Disaster preparedness promotes the development of a system for monitoring known hazards, a warning
system, emergency and evacuation plans, emergency routes, and the formulation of educational
programs for public officials and professionals.
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
Measures need to be drawn to minimize the loss and destruction of life and property. These include the
formulation and implementation of long-range policies and programs to prevent or eliminate the
occurrences of disaster based on risk analysis. Disaster prevention and mitigation include legislation
and regulatory measures principally in the fields of physical and urban planning public works and
construction.
Drills and shelters for times of disaster are also needed.
Among the activities that may minimize the impact of disaster are:
1. Identification of areas most prone to typhoons and other calamities
2. Display and teaching of structural improvements
3. Preparation of educational materials
4. Community involvement and mobilization
5. Media liaison
A. Principles of Disaster Preparedness
1. The risk must be known.
2. Potential hazards must be identified.
REXSON D. TAGUBA, LPT
GURO SA FILIPINO
NSTP 1 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
3. Incidence of hazard occurrences must be calculated.
4. Secondary risk must be identified.
B. Vulnerability must be known
1. Risk must be determined.
2. Likely damage and disruption must be assessed.
3. Human needs must be in place.
C. Mitigation measures must be in place
1. Required mitigation measures must be formulated.
2. Non-structural mitigation measures must be instituted.
D. Preparedness system must be ready
1. All parties should be in a state of readiness.
2. A focal point for preparedness must exist.
3. A management system for emergency response must be in place.
4. Plans must exist and planning must occur regularly.
5. Training and practice must be regular.
6. Warning systems must be operational at all times.
7. Authorities and the public must be fully informed.
Land-Use Planning (Risk Zoning)
While there are maps that show earthquakes faults, areas hit by tidal waves, and paths of typhoons
throughout the year, there is a dearth of information regarding risk areas at the barangay and even at
the municipal levels. The government should conduct studies on the following:
1. Surveys of mountainsides, riverbanks, and coastal areas for their suitability as housing sites, farming
and mining areas, and the like
2. Rational plans for urban centers showing industrial sites
3. Identification of areas for reforestation, forest preservation, and other nature conservation measures
4. Building codes regulating height, type of materials, and other specifications for structures, particularly
in risk areas
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Its Operating Policies
The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have the
capability to react during natural calamities. With the DND's unique nature of organization, network of
troops, and asset disposition, the DND organized an action-oriented Civil Defense Plan with the creation
of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The NDRRMC, then called
the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), by virtue of Memorandum Order No. 4, issued some
functional policies and procedures to assist the victims of calamities and alleviate their plight. Upon the
declaration of a state calamity by the
President, priority assistance is instantly extended to victims in terms of relief operations, medical
REXSON D. TAGUBA, LPT
GURO SA FILIPINO
NSTP 1 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
assistance, immediate repair of vital infrastructure damaged by natural disasters, and resettlement of
calamity victims. Calamity funds are released directly to the implementing departments and agencies.
Funds allotted to the Department of Social Welfare and Development is used for emergency relief and
rehabilitation assistance to affected areas and disaster victims. In the meantime, the budget released to
the Department of Health is used in the procurement of needed medicines and for medicalassistance
to the calamity victims. The NDRRMC is composed of the following:
(a) Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH);
(b) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);
(c) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA);
(d) Secretary of the Department of Education (DepED);
(e) Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE):
() Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF):
(8) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI):
(h) Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC); (i) Secretary of the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM);
(1) Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). (k) Secretary of the Department
of Foreign Affairs (DFA):
(1) Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ):
(m) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
(n) Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT);
(o) The Executive Secretary:
(p) Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP):
(q) Chairman, Commission on Higher Education (CHED):
(i) Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): (s) Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP):
(1) The Press Secretary:
(u) Secretary General of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC):
(v) Commissioner of the National Anti-Poverty Commission-Victims of Disasters and Calamities Sector
(NAPCVDC):
(w) Chairperson, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women;
(x) Chairperson, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC);
(y) Executive Director of the Climate Change Office of the Climate Change Commission;
(z) President, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS):
(aa) President, Social Security System (SSS);
(bb) President, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth);
(cc) President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP):
(dd) President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP):
(ee) President of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP);
REXSON D. TAGUBA, LPT
GURO SA FILIPINO
NSTP 1 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
(I) President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP);
(89) President of the Liga ng Mga Barangay (LMB):
(hh) Four (4) representatives from the CSOs;
(11) One (1) representative from the private sector; and
(i) Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)
Key Players in Disaster Management
Disaster risk management includes administrative decisions and operational activities which involve:
1. Prevention
2. Mitigation
3. Preparedness
4. Response
5. Recovery
6. Rehabilitation
Disaster management involves all levels of the government (local and national). Non-governmental and
community-based organizations also play a vital role in the process. During disasters, the local
communities themselves are the first to give aid.
Role of Government Agencies
During calamity operations, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
makes available all facilities and the expertise relative to the effective implementation of the mission.
Likewise, the OCD prepares the national/ regional disaster and calamity preparedness plan in
accordance with the approved disaster and calamity guidelines. The members and tasks of the NDRRMC
are as follows:
1. The Chairman convenes the Council as often as necessary and calls on all other
departments/bureaus/agencies, instrumentalities of the government, and the private sector for
assistance when the need arises.
2. The OCD Administrator coordinates the activities and functions of the various agencies and
instrumentalities of the government, private institutions, and civic organizations to implement the
policies and programs of the NDRRMC; disseminates materials relative to disaster prevention, control,
and mitigation; and advises the Chairman on matters concerning disaster management.
3. The DILG Secretary oversees the organization of DCCs, the establishment of disaster operations
centers of all local governments, and the training of DCC members in coordination with OCD, DSWD,
PNRC, and other appropriate agencies.
4. The DSWD Secretary extends relief assistance and social services to the victims as necessary.
5. The DOH Secretary provides health services during emergencies as necessary and organizes reaction
teams in hospitals, clinics, and sanitary and other health institutions.
6. The NEDA Director-General determines and analyzes the effects of disasters and calamities on the
REXSON D. TAGUBA, LPT
GURO SA FILIPINO
NSTP 1 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
socio-economic plans and programs of the country and develops a damage assessment scheme. 7. The
DOLE Secretary provides emergency employment opportunities to
disaster victims; implements the industrial civil defense programs and measures; and organizes and
trains disaster control groups in all factories and industrial complexes. 8. The DepEd Secretary provides
assistance in the public education and campaign
regarding disaster preparedness, prevention, and mitigation; makes available school buildings as
evacuation centers; and organizes and trains disaster control groups and reaction teams in all schools
and institutions of learning.
9. The DTI Secretary maintains the normal level of prices of commodities during emergencies and
organizes disaster control groups and reaction teams in tall or big buildings used for commercial and
recreational purposes. 10. The DA Secretary undertakes surveys in disaster areas to determine the extent
of damage of agricultural crops, livestock, and fisheries, and renders technical assistance to disaster
victims whose crops or livestock have been destroyed. 11. The DBM Secretary releases funds required
by the departments for disaster operations.
12. The DENR Secretary oversees the reforestation and control of areas which tend to cause flooding,
landslides, mudflow, and ground subsidence; provides seeds, seedlings and saplings, and technical
assistance regarding mines, forests, and lands; and formulates rules and regulations for the control of
water and land pollution.
13. The DOF Secretary issues rules and regulations with the relevant agencies for funding by the local
government of the requirements for organizing, equipping, and training of their DCCs and reaction
teams.
14. The DPWH Secretary restores destroyed public structures such as flood control, waterworks, roads,
bridges, and other vertical and horizontal facilities/ structures and provides heavy and light equipment
for relief, rescue, and recovery operations. 15. The DOT Secretary organizes and trains disaster control
groups and reaction teams in hotels, pension houses, restaurants, and other tourist-oriented facilities.
16. The DOTC Secretary restores destroyed communication and transportation facilities such as
railroads and vertical structures and organizes emergency transport services from the national level
down to the barangay level.
17. The PIA Director provides public information service through dissemination of disaster mitigation
measures.
18. The PNRC Secretary-General conducts disaster leadership training courses; assists in the training of
DCCs at all levels; and helps in providing emergency relief assistance to disaster victims.
19. The AFP Chief of Staff ensures security in disaster areas; assists in the reconstruction of roads,
bridges, and other structures; and provide transportation facilities for the rapid movement of relief
supplies and personnel and evacuation of disaster victims.
REXSON D. TAGUBA, LPT
GURO SA FILIPINO
NSTP 1 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
Contribution in Disaster Management
All able-bodied young citizens should involve themselves in civic action in the community where they
live and should be ready to render assistance anywhere and anytime their services are needed. More
than anything else, it is the moral obligation of all to assist their countrymen who are in distress. In
times of natural calamities or man-made disasters, the youth should be willing and ready to extend
direct assistance to calamity victims through the following activities:
1. Sorting, loading, and distribution of relief goods
2. Administering first-aid treatment to victims
3. Comforting and assisting in the rehabilitation of evacuees
4. Disseminating information to concerned individuals
5. Surveying of affected families and areas 6. Monitoring and liaising work
Civic-action activities like environmental and ecological protection, river and watershed control projects,
and tree-planting/forest fire control should be planned and implemented.
Youth development agencies should establish coordination and linkages to be set up before, during,
and after every disaster. By using the NDRRMC operational model, the youth development agencies
should:
1. Plan disaster management activities before a calamity strikes. They should join or participate in
training exercises on disaster and relief operations.
2. See to it that the available resources could meet the needs of the chosen activities.
3. Coordinate all activities properly with the city, provincial, and municipal disaster coordinating
councils.
4. Organize the groups. They should assign responsibilities which the members can handle properly.
Confidence in what they do is the key to success.
5. Work as a team. They should coordinate efforts with other public and private organizations.
Conclusion
The Philippines has a unique local governance system of barangays whose primary function is to plan
and implement government policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities in the community. The
locals are rich in knowledge about their community and have ready solutions to problems at hand.
REXSON D. TAGUBA, LPT
GURO SA FILIPINO